It has become an image of American power — a US president in a bomber jacket, at the border dubbed the most dangerous in the world, to stare down North Korea — but it is one that the usually confrontational Donald Trump will avoid.

During his forthcoming tour of Southeast Asia, Mr Trump will not visit the tense demilitarised zone that borders North Korea. At 12 days, it will be his longest visit abroad as president, but a senior administration official said “there’s not enough time in the schedule”.

Some observers had expressed concern that such a visit by Mr Trump, who is prone to unscripted and incendiary remarks, could inflame tensions on the peninsula at a time when the US is seeking to compel North Korea to drop its fast-accelerating nuclear missile programme. Mr Trump and his counterpart in Pyongyang have frequently exchanged ferocious threats on Twitter and in other media.